If you think about it, in 1897 there were no paved roads. In fact, if I recall correctly, the League of American Wheelmen was formed to lobby for the paving of roads.

You are absolutely correct! Seems bicycles were the platform for most modern transportation including early aircraft! The Wright brothers!
Many large bicycle clubs were formed in the late 19th century.... very much of a motivation for paved roads and bicycle trails. Many still exist!

The 1903 bike below is in the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.... Illustrates the use of bicycle components used in the early airplanes....!

Might have also been the first use of a prototype "framebag" for off-road purposes! I don't know about other places, but here in Pennsylvania "bicycle roads" as they were called back then were the future auto roads and you can even find maps titled "Bicycle roads of Pa" where it was the path of the bicycle before autos.

I have a fantastic book by Jim Fitzpatrick called The Bicycle in Wartime that contains many cool photos of, well, bicycles in wartime. Several sociable-style tandems (the four wheeled type) that have guns and canons mounted on them. During the second Anglo-Boer War, many sociables were built for rail travel, two-person, and even nine-person models.

There are other related books, such as the ones by R.S. Kohn and Martin Caidin.

Here's a book that chronicles the earliest mountainbikepacking trip.
Description:This is the lively story of the only bicycle corps the U.S. Army ever authorized. Using buffalo soldiers, this 1890s African-American unit conducted drills and exercises on wheels. They rode into Northern Montana on muddy trails and toured Yellowstone on their 100-pound iron bicycles. As proof of their capabilities, these Iron Riders pedaled 1,900 miles from Ft. Missoula, across the snow-dusted Rocky Mountains and steamy Great Plains, to St. Louis. As they approached the city over 1,000 civilian bicyclists rode out to escort them into town in a great parade. Learn more about the adventures of this little known buffalo soldier unit and fascinating details about this era in America. Well researched and a good read. Full of rare pictures and drawings.

Most roads were muddy like the one with the bike above. Never heard the story about the first paved road. Be interested if they had any technology and gear that would still be useful today besides wool jerseys. Cool!

If you look at this map of 1896 Southern California bike routes, you will see that folks were doing some pretty serious rides that most folks wouldn't even dare on modern equipment today. These routes were obviously not paved, and lest we forget that these bikes were mostly likely fixed gear

I am really surprised at how advanced the use of bicycles was in the late 1800s! One thing I have noticed was the use of smallish foot pegs on the front forks.... methinks this was done as there were very few freewheel hubs in those days and going down hill must have been stimulating fun!
Besides a front tire rubbing block brake, what else was used to stop the bike besides a tree?

If your ever near Missoula please check out Fort Missoula, Home of the Ironriders.
Great exhibit showing these bikes from yesteryear.
Yes they are heavy and the Ironriders were badass.
Go to my website www.Ironriders.net and read a little history.
Especially after their little jaunt to St Louis.
We have no idea.

1906 bicycle delivery

I can just bet that not all streets and roads were nicely paved! At one time bikes were pretty darn popular, these old pics show what happened in days of old and the bikes have not changed all that much!